Sheriff's Office Honors 82 Heroes Among Deputies, Staff, Regular Folk

Also At The Awards Ceremony, An Alternative School Was Renamed To Honor Slain Deputy Gene Gregory.

July 11, 1999|By Doris Bloodsworth of The Sentinel Staff

SANFORD - Heroes still exist.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office had ample proof of that when they awarded 82 medals to private citizens, deputies and other employees, while remembering the efforts of Deputy Eugene ``Gene'' Gregory on the one-year anniversary of his death in the line of duty.

Among the three civilians presented with Community Service Awards during a ceremony Thursday was a Longwood man who was wounded during a robbery and murder at Suzanne's Oyster Reef and Pub.

Edwin Norris, 40, was stabbed three times after having been struck in the head with a handgun by one of the robbers. Norris was dining at the restaurant in May 1997 when two men entered and began robbing customers. A cook was shot and killed by one of the robbers.

Norris was stabbed while trying to wrestle a gun away from one of the robbers, but he chased the two robbers out of the restaurant. His testimony helped convict the men in the robbery and slaying.

``I knew we were all going to die if I didn't fight him,'' Norris said, ``so I was just trying to get the gun away and not get killed.''

Kevin Knight was honored for his assistance in identifying an Internet stalker.

Tammy Ulmer, a nurse, gave first aid to three injured victims of a traffic accident.

In an emotionally charged room of 200 law enforcement officers and their friends and families, Sheriff Don Eslinger announced that the Intensive Community Supervision Unit - an alternative school for youthful offenders - would be renamed the Eugene Gregory Memorial Youth Academy. Gregory had volunteered to work with troubled children during his time as a deputy.

Eslinger also presented the Medal of Merit to Sgt. Gene Fry, Sgt. Kevin Mahanke and Deputy Warren Treadwell. The officers rescued a suicidal woman armed with a handgun in April 1998.

The Medal of Merit is the second highest award for valor given by the Sheriff's Office and is awarded to those showing sound judgment and exceptional bravery while at risk of imminent danger to themselves.

Also receiving the honor was Deputy Don Rufo. In April 1998, Rufo disarmed a mentally ill man with a gun during a confrontation.

The Sheriff's Office gave commendations to Sgt. Tom Johnson and Deputy Rick Kolentus for their efforts in stopping a reckless driver in early May. Officers had pursued the driver through four counties before apprehending him on Wekiva Springs Road near an elementary school.

Linda Gregory, widow of Deputy Eugene Gregory, presented 14 dispatchers with a unit citation for their efforts during last year's July 8 shooting in which her husband lost his life.